Blazion 2.0

AT&T has high profile presence at Dem convention - Yahoo! News

It had absolutely nothing to do with moving to the center, or appeasing Bush like so many angry liberals accuse him of.

It had everything to do with power and money.

It's not right, but it is what it is.

This is America.

Fuck you, pay me.

You're living in a fantasyland if you think a President will ever prosecute organizations with so much power and influence.

This is why they got immunity:





DENVER - AT&T is not just a phone call away at the Democratic National Convention.



The telecommunications giant is virtually everywhere, wining and feeding delegates and members of Congress with a relentless schedule of luncheons and evening celebrations.

"They get goodwill, they get access and they build relationships," said Nancy Watzman, director of the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation's "Party Time" effort that is tracking spending at the conventions. "They're covering all bases, they're making sure they have input with whoever wins."

AT&T is just one example of how political conventions have become a virtual bazaar where corporations and other special interests can peddle their wares, showcase their products and make a case for their favorite (or least favorite) piece of pending legislation.

The Texas-based company has the most high-profile corporate presence in Denver. It is a major sponsor at the convention, it is holding daily lunches for state delegations at the Pinnacle Club, with its startling views of the Rocky Mountain range, and co-hosting hip parties for the likes of the Screen Actors' Guild and the New Democratic Coalition.

On Monday, AT&T threw an exclusive party for the Blue Dogs, the House's moderate and conservative Democrats, at the historic Mile High Station in downtown Denver. Among the guests was House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who in June led Blue Dogs in crafting a compromise bill that shielded telecommunications companies from lawsuits arising from the government's terrorism-era warrantless eavesdropping.

Hoyer spokeswoman Stacey Bernards said Hoyer was not aware of any connection between the party and his work on the legislation.

"I'm sure Mr. Hoyer didn't even know who the sponsor was," she said.

While new ethics restrictions adopted by Congress prevent corporations or lobbyists from throwing lavish parties to honor key congressional committee chairmen or other powerful members of Congress, the House ethics committee concluded that they can still host a party to salute a group of members.

AT&T is also a major donor to the Republican convention next week, where it will also host a series of events.

Company spokesman Michael Balmoris said the conventions give the company an opportunity to feature itself and its technological innovations. "That's why we contribute and participate," he said.

On Monday, outside the Mile High Station, as limousines and SUVs with tinted windows pulled up to the entrance, members of Code Pink, the leftist anti-war group, protested outside, waving signs that said: "Stop government spying."

AT&T, like other telecommunications companies, has a continuing interest in congressional legislation. Since 2005, its executives and employees have contributed more than $7.3 million to federal candidates, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute. It also has spent nearly $52 million on federal lobbying.

The intelligence bill was its premier issue this year. About 40 lawsuits have been filed against the telecommunications companies by groups and individuals who believed the Bush administration illegally monitored their phone calls or e-mails. The White House had threatened to veto any intelligence legislation that did not protect the companies from those lawsuits

Hoyer was the point person within the Democratic leadership negotiating the legislation.

Under a compromise struck in the House, a federal district court would review certifications from the attorney general saying the telecommunications companies received presidential orders telling them wiretaps were needed to detect or prevent a terrorist attack. The judge could then dismiss the lawsuit if the certifications were deemed proper.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama backed the House version of the bill.

New ethics rules place significant restrictions on what lobbyists and members of Congress can do a these parties. While the parties are still free to invitees, members of Congress cannot eat sitdown meals — the fare is limited to finger food and drinks — and members must pay if the entertainment is a big name act.

The exception for large groups, however, has infuriated some ethics watchdog groups. On Wednesday, for instance, Visa and US Bank are sponsoring a reception for first-term Democratic members of the House. Many of those freshman members were key in pushing the House to pass the ethics restrictions.

"What (the exception) says, in essence, is lobbyists cannot buy influence by paying for a lavish party to honor one member," said Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, a group that advocates tougher ethics and campaign finance laws. "But they can buy influence by paying for a lavish party to honor multiple members."

Heretic

Does Jim Kuhnhenn [what kind of fuckin' name is that?] not realize that AT&T was the last company to sign on board with Jr.'s wiretap program [after losing one of their own execs to Jr.'s justice department]?

Though, I suppose the story's credible from Yahoo. If anyone knows about telecommunication espionage for the state it'd be Yahoo and their buddies in the communst government of China.

__________________
"In space no one can hear you scream. in D.C. it won't matter..." -Clinton Resurrection: The Alien Queen lives!

ibex

What Obama and the Dems approved of basically stops the current pending law suits against big telecoms in their tracks, so any evidence of crimes committed by the NSA or other government agencies found in discovery might never see the light of day. That's what pisses a lot of people off but I think what you're seeing here goes way beyond the power and influence of companies like AT&T. It's about empowering the Execuitie branch beyond what's Constitutionally legal and consistent. Everybody likes power and it's all well and good to attack warantless wire taps when it's the other guy doing it, but both parties are run by control freaks who love power. There are few Republicans or Democrats who truly believe in civil liberties. The cave in to Big Telecom wouldn't have happened if more of them believed in the Constitution and the rule of law.